Street and station indicator



2 Sh eets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

S. E. BISBEE.

STREET AND STATION INDICATOR.

No. 593,956. Patented Nova 16,1897;

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Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

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SEYMOUR E. BISBEE, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

STREET AND STATION INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,956, dated. November 16, 1897.

Application filed August 28, 1896. Serial No. 604,218. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SEYMOUR E. BIsBEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a Street and Station Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a practicable, cheap, simple, accurate, convenient, and easily-controlled mechanism for indicating the streets or stations for the occupants of a street or railway car.

The invention relates to street and station indicators provided with a ribbon on which are painted or printed the names of the streets or stations which the moving car will pass.

An object of this invention is to provide means whereby the indicator will be under the control of the motorman or engineer or other person in charge and can be made to reverse at any point and to operate independently of the movement of the car and be also adapted, if desired, to be operated automatically by mechanism which will be tripped as the car passes the street or station to be indicated.

A difficulty to beovercome is the variable character of the take-up which moves the indicator-ribbon across the slot through which the street or station names are exposed to viewthat is to say, when the take-up roller is full of ribbon a slight rotation of the roller will be sufficient to move the ribbon the required distance, but when'the take-up roller is nearly empty it may require a full rotation of the roller to move the ribbon the required distance. An object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty. This is accomplished by the combination of take-up mechanism for moving the indicator-ribbon, a stop mechanism arranged to automatically and normally stop the said take-up mechanism, and stopmechanism-controlling means for releasing the stop mechanism to allow the take-up mechanism to act. The indicator-ribbon is passed around a display-roller, which is arranged at a sight-opening in the mechanismcontaining case. The indicator-ribbon is Wound around two take-up rollers, to which the ends are fastened, and the ribbon is arranged to positively rotate the display-roller, and the stop-meohanism-controllin g means is connected with and operated by the displayroller. By this arrangement when the ribbon turns the display-roller and thus moves the stop-mechanism-controlling means a given distance-viz. the space required to in-' stop mechanism, and this is preferably placed under the control of the motorman by means of a push-button, the intention being that the motorman may press the button immediately after he has crossed a street or passed a station, thus causing the electromagnet to release the spring-actuated mechanism at every crossing and allow such mechanism to move the indicator-ribbon sufficiently to display the next street or station.

The invention also includes other features of construction and combinations of parts,

which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The electric energy for energizing the magnet to cause the shifting of the ribbon to take place at the right moment may be generated by a battery carried by the car, or it may be taken from the trolley, or both plans may be adopted and the car be provided with a battery and also with anelectric conductor connected with the trolley and also provided with switches to make and break both circuits. The switch for making and breaking the trolley-circuit can be operated automatically by tripping devices on the span-wires which support the trolley-wire, thus avoiding all liability of any breakage or injury which is apt to occur to any tripping device located on the ground.

An important object to be obtained is simplicity and accuracy, and this is attainedby the use of electricity from battery or. trolley to cause the indicator to shift at the right moment.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. a

Figure 1 is a fragmental view showing a portion of an electric car provided with this invention and arranged to energize the releasing-magnet by electricity from the trolley and also by electricity from a battery. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the indicator mechanism, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration. Fig. 3 is a detached View of the ribbon-lock and stop-wheel and the stop-lever with armature and magnet for drawing it out of its locking position. Fig. 4 is a detail of the switch mechanism for taking current from the trolley. Fig. 5 is a plan of the indicator mechanism, the top of the case being removed. Fig. 6 is a fgont elevation of the indicator mechanism, the front of the case being removed. Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail in section on line 7 7, Figs. 2 and 5.

1 and 2 indicate the two ribbon-take-up rollers, and 3 indicates the display-roller.

A indicates the indicator-ribbon arranged over the display-roller and wound around the ribbon-take-up rollers and having its ends respectively fastened to the take-up rollers. Each of the take-up rollers is provided with a cog-wheel 1" and 2", respectively.

4 indicates a spring-driven shifting masterwheel mounted between the cog-wheels 1" and 2 of the take-up rollers and arranged to move from one of said cog-wheels to the other and to mesh with both of said wheels, but with only one at a time, to drive the same independently of each other. Suitable means are provided for shifting the master-wheel from one cog to the other and for holding it in its shifted position.

In the drawings, B indicates a pivoted frame which carries the master-wheel 4 and the spring driving mechanism 5 5, which drives the same.

b is a rod connected with the frame B and arranged to engage a catch 12 to hold the frame and master-wheel first in one position and then in the other, as may be required to take up the ribbon for going and return trips. The master-wheel frame B is pivoted at b and carries the spring 5 and ratchet 5, by which the master-wheel is driven.

5" indicates the key-stem for winding the spring by means of a key, (not shown,) which can be inserted through the keyhole 5 in the door of the case 0, which is fastened at some suitable place in the car Z.

Suitable gearing 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 connect the master-wheel 4 with an escapement stop-wheel 13, which is controlled by the escapement-pawl 14, which is controlled by a stop-lever D, which is arranged to normally intercept and stop the pawl.

E indicates a ribbon-lock and stopwheel for the stop-lever D. It is fixed to and rotates with the display-roller 3 and is provided at intervals on its periphery with notches e, which receive a tooth d on the stop-lever D, thus allowing the lever to stand in position to stop the escapement-pawl 14; but the wheel is of such diameter that when the tooth rides on the periphery of the wheel the lever will thereby be held out of the path of the escapement-pawl and. allow the pawl to vibrate, thus to allow the master-wheel to rotate to drive the take-up roller with which it is in mesh. By this arrangement the spring-actuated take-up mechanism is caused to wind up ribbon just so long as the display-roller is in position to allow the tooth d of the stop-lever to rest on the periphery of the ribbon-lock and stop-wheel E instead of in one of the notches e.

The ribbon A has a series of holes a, which correspond to and receive teeth 3 on the display-roller, so that the winding up of the ribbon on the take-up roller will rotate the display-roller and the wheel E until the tooth d enters one of the notches e and thus allows the lever D to stop the escapement 14.

(1 indicates an armature which swings from the free end of the lever D above an electromagnet F, which is arranged beneath the free end of the stop-lever D.

g indicates an electric conductor leading from a battery G to the electromagnet. The magnet is also shown connected with the electrical conductor H to receive a current from the trolley I.

The armature d is pivoted to and hangs from the lever D. This allows the magnet to be placed below the display-roller and the lever and escapement and stop-wheel to be arranged with due economy of space.

J indicates a switch for said conductor H, carried by the trolley-pole and adapted and arranged to strike upon a projecting switchtripper K, which projects from the span-wire L into the path of the switch J to be engaged thereby. This switch makes and breaks circuit between the magnet and trolley-wire.

M indicates a push-button for throwing the magnet into circuit with the battery. This is preferably placed at the lnotorne'eris stand, so that the motorman may pii'slfthmbutton at every street-crossing if the overhead trippers K are not used.

In case the indicator is to be actuated by electricity from the trolley-wire, switch-trippers K will be arranged at suitable intervals with proper relation to the streets or stations, so that the magnet will be energized and the indicator actuated once for every crossing or station; but at present I believe it to be more practical, as well as much cheaper, to dispense with the automatic tripping devices and require the motorman to press the button and personally attend to the indicator, thus to avoid any liability of indicating the wrong streets or stations by reason of the breaking or disarrangement of any of the trippers. The motorman or engineer is in a position to know whenever a street or station is passed, and in practice he will after a few trips automatically press the button at every crossing and station.

When the magnet is energized, the armature cl is drawn toward the magnet, thus ICC pulling the stop-leverD out of the way of the escapement-pawl 14 and at the same instant lifting the tooth d out of the notch e of the carrier. Then the spring-actuated mechanism rotates the take-up roller, and the ribbon, acting on the teeth 3, rotates the displayroller 3 and the ribbon-lock and stop-wheel E until the tooth d of the lever D enters one of the notches e. The notches e are at inter Vals apart corresponding to the distance the ribbon must move in order to change the name displayed at the slot O. When the dog at stops the ribbon-lock and stop-wheel E, and consequently the display-roller, this would also stop the ribbon and the take-up roller upon which the ribbon is being wound, and consequently would thereby prevent any further rotation of the master-wheel 4 after the ribbon is drawn tight; but when the lover D has stopped the display-roller it has also stopped the escapement and the master-wheel and thereby prevents any undue strain upon the ribbon.

It is to be understood that to provide any other form of motor in lieu of the spring 5 to drive the master-wheel would not avoid my invention. I regard my invention as embracing the machine and the claimed parts regardless of whether the motive power for operating the take-up roller is applied through the medium of a spring or otherwise.

In practice the ribbon A is provided with ap propriate markings-as 5th Street, Broadway, &c.to indicate the streets or stations on the route, and at starting the motorman or conductor will see that the indicator is set to the right starting-point. To do this, the push-button M may be used, or, if so desired, the cog-wheels 1 and 2 may be sufficiently far apart to allow the master-wheel 4 to be thrown out of mesh with both the cog-wheels 1 and 2", and thus allow the take-up roller 1 or 2, as the case may be, to be turned until the proper street or station is displayed. Then the bar cl is moved to bring the masterwheel into mesh with the cog-wheel of the proper take-up and is caught on the catch at to hold it in that position. Then the car is run over the track, and whenever a street is crossed or a station passed the magnet is thrown into circuit and thus energized, so as to move the stop-lever and allow the indicator mechanism to operate. As soon as the mechanism moves the ribbon and the displayroller this moves the unnotched portion e of the wheel E under the dog, and thus carries the lever until the next notch comes beneath the dog. The spring is thus allowed to rotate the take-up roller until the next name is displayed. Then the dog again enters a notch e and the mechanism is stopped until the button is again pushed.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is"

1. In astreet and station indicator, the comnotches and fixed on the display-roller; a stop to stop the escapement and provided with a dog arranged to ride upon the stop-wheel and to enter the said stop-notches; and means to withdraw the dog from the stop-wheel and the stop from the escapement.

2. In a street and station indicator, the combination of a take-up roller; a display-roller with notched stop-wheel fixed thereon; an

indicator-ribbon passed around the displayroller and arranged to positively rotate the same and wrapped upon the take-up roller and having its end fastened thereto; means for driving the take-up roller to take up the ribbon and thereby rotate the display-roller; stop mechanism operatively connected with the notched stop-wheel of the display-roller and arranged to automatically and normally stop the said take-up mechanism; and stop mechanism controlling means for releasing the stop mechanism to allow the take-up mechanism to act. I

3. The combination of two ribbon-take-up rollers, each provided with a cog-Wheel; said cog-wheels being arranged to rotate in a common plane, an indicator-ribbon wound on said rollers and having its ends respectively fastened thereto; a shifting springdriven master wheel mounted between the cogwheels of the take-up rollers to rotate in a common plane therewith and arranged to move from one of said cog-wheels to the other to alternately drive the same; means for shifting the master-wheel in the plane of its rotation; stop mechanism connected with the master-wheel and arranged to automatically and normally stop the same; an armature for releasing said stop mechanism; and an 4. The combination of two ribbon-take-up rollers, each provided with a cog-wheel; a display-roller provided with ribbon-holding teeth and to be driven by the display-ribbon; a shifting spring-driven master-wheel mounted between the cog-wheels of the ribbon-take-up rollers and arranged to move from one of said cog-wheels to the other to alternately drive the same; an indicator-rib bon arranged over the display-roller and having holes to receive the ribbon-holding teeth to drive the display-roller and being wound around the ribbon-take-up rollers with its ends respectively fastened thereto; the escapement operatively connected with and driven by the master -wheel stop mechanism to stop the escapement, operatively connected with the display-roller; and means for releasing the stop mechanism.

5. In a street-indicator, the combination of a stop-wheel provided with stop-notches and operatively connected with the indicator-ribbon and to be moved thereby; mechanism to drive the ribbon; an escapement to stop such mechanism; a stop to stop the escapement and provided with a dog arranged to ride upon the stop-wheel and to enter the said stop-notches; an armature connected with said stop; and an eleetromagnet arranged to actuate said armature to withdraw the dog from the stop-wheel and the stopfrom the esoapement.

6. In a street and station indicator, the combination of a stop-wheel operatively connected with the indicator-operating mechanism; a lever provided at one end with means to stop said stop-wheel; an electromagnet arranged below such lever; and aswinging armature pivoted to and hanging from the free arm of the lever and arranged to swing over the eleetromagnet to be operated thereby.

7. The combination of two ribbon-take-up rollers, each provided with a cog-wheelsaid cog-wheels being arranged to rotate in a common plane; an indicator-ribbon wound on the take-up rollers and having its ends respec tively fastened thereto; a shifting masterwheel mounted on an axle between the cogwheels of the take-up rollers and arranged to rotate in a common plane therewith and to move from one of said cog-wheels to the other to alternately drive the same; a spring fastened to and carried by said axle to drive it; and means for shifting the master-wheel in the plane of its rotation to engage with one or the other of said roller cog-wheels.

SEYMOUR E. BISBEE.

Witnesses:

W. A. Oseoon, JAMES R. TOWNSEND. 

